O Come, All Ye Faithful

O Come, All Ye Faithful

If you know the history of England and the surrounding lands, you know that religious forces have been at odds there for centuries. Kings, popes, clerics, and commoners have fought and struggled over lands and creeds for longer than any of us can remember. This brings us to today’s hymn story.

In the 18th century, a group of zealots known as the Jacobites were intent on restoring a Catholic king to the throne of England. James II had been the last such king, and they wanted his throne back. After several uprisings—including an assassination attempt—the Jacobites were forced into exile, where they began planning their next steps.

Because they could not communicate openly, the Jacobites developed secret code words for important subjects. For example, the Latin title for the English king was Regum Anglorum. Very close to that phrase was Regum Angelorum,meaning “King of Angels.”

By using this alternate title, plans could be discussed more openly. England came to be called Bethlehem, and the Jacobites themselves—who remained faithful to King James II—referred to themselves as “the faithful.”

During this time, an invasion of England was set forth in a song using those secret code words. John Francis Wade, who was friendly to the Jacobite cause, wrote a hymn with lyrics designed to inspire the Jacobites and call the exiles into action in support of a French invasion of England.

Although O Come, All Ye Faithful is one of our most beloved Christmas carols today, it is fascinating to note that it originally began as a call to arms—a rallying cry for an invasion of England meant to overthrow a king. Its peaceful tune and Christ-centered lyrics make it a beautiful, if deeply ironic, song of joy.

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O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels:

O come, let us adore Him, (3×)

Christ the Lord.

God of God, Light of Light,

Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;

True God, begotten, not created:

O come, let us adore Him, (3×)

Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,

Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!

Glory to God, glory in the highest:

O come, let us adore Him, (3×)

Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be glory given!

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him, (3×)

Christ the Lord.